Oroville man takes decades-long trash pickup habit to Riverbend Park

OROVILLE &GT;&GT; On Monday and Thursday nights, retired longtime Oroville resident Al Stiefel and a friend can be seen walking around Riverbend Park carrying large bags and big sticks.

They're not there to stir up trouble but to pick up trash.

Stiefel said he does to help out and to maintain his health.

"I have been doing this for 30 years," said Stiefel in an interview Thursday at the park. "I started working on Oro-Bangor Highway. When I bought my property the road was used as a dump. I went out every day and picked up the trash."

Now, he goes to Riverbend twice a week with his friend, retired attorney Bob Hewitt, which has led to a new program through the Feather River Recreation and Park District called Trash Mob Mondays.

Stiefel said one of the FRRPD board directors saw him picking up trash one day and directed him to talk to Executive Administrator Apryll Ramage to see if they could set up a program to recruit volunteers and pick up trash in a larger area.

Trash Mob Mondays is held at 7:30 p.m. every Monday. Ramage said in an e-mail that she has spread the word through the district's newsletter and weekly e-mails.

So far, no one has responded, Stiefel said.

A native of Ohio, Stiefel, 76, moved to California in 1965 and then settled in Oroville in 1977. Before moving to Oroville, he owned a machine shop in San Leandro. He's now retired.

During his walks along Oro Bangor Highway, it wasn't uncommon to see old washing machines, driers and dishwashers left on the road, he said. Stiefel took those to a recycler and got $5 apiece until the owner of the recycling company started charging him.

He and Hewitt have been all over Oroville. For the past few years, he has been picking up trash around Denny's Restaurant and the bus terminal on Spencer Avenue.

"It gets very messy there, but it's getting better," he said.

He has also gone to different places where transient people gather.

"I tell the transients they need to keep their places clean or the city will kick them out," he said. "They started doing that, but the city moved them out anyway."

He has also cleaned up downtown on Montgomery Street, on Oro Dam Boulevard and sections of Olive Highway, but not regularly.

"If I drive by and see a big mess, I stop and take care of it," he said.

Stiefel began working at Riverbend in the spring. For awhile he was picking up trash in Bedrock Park.

"I came over here, and this seemed like such a nice place with nice people that I decided to make my debut," he said.

During the cleanups, he and Hewitt focus on the main lawn area of Riverbend and the parking lot. They don't pick up trash at the dog park or the athletic section.

Generally his experiences with people at the park have been good. It's not unusual to see hundreds of people when he's there, and a lot of trash, but people mostly pick up their own trash, he said.

He has a pat answer for when people ask what he's doing.

"I like to tell them I'm looking for $100 bills," said Stiefel with a twinkle in his eyes. "I'll be picking up, and if there's a crowd of people it's not uncommon for them to start picking up. One gentleman was here with a bunch of kids, and soon they were all out picking up trash."

He also keeps bags in his truck for people with dogs who might not have a bag to pick up their pet's waste.

Every day of the year,, Stiefel walks somewhere in Oroville and picks up trash.

"I consider it a health exercise," he said. "It gets me out of the house and walking."

For the most part, people are appreciative, thanking him and telling him what a great job he's doing.

But some people have warned him to be careful and have voiced concern that he could get hurt.

Stiefel takes it in stride.

"I've not had a bad incident yet," he said. "I have been very fortunate in my life."

He takes most of the trash home and sorts it. Things that decompose go into barrels. He lets those sit for a year and then uses the contents as fertilizer in his pasture.

Glass and plastics go to a recycler. The money he gets from that goes to his church for a fund to provide food for people in need.

Stiefel said overall, Riverbend Park isn't that trashy.

"You go down by the bus stop and boy, you can find all kinds," he said. "My friend and myself pick up more there than we do in this park."

He plans to continue indefinitely, although when it starts raining Stiefel may adjust his schedule.

"If it's raining on Monday night, we'll come Tuesday night," he said. "We'll just play it by ear. If it's raining hard, we won't come out."

If his example is making a difference, Stiefel isn't taking credit. Occasionally he does see people toss trash and leave it, but generally people seem to be appreciative of the surroundings.

"This is a beautiful park here, where they can enjoy walking, play volleyball, have picnics here and the kids can run," he noted.

Stiefel said he and Hewitt plan to continue their efforts as long as their health allows.

"I'm just trying to keep healthy, and the park benefits by us," he said.

For information about Trash Mob Mondays or to volunteer, call FRRPD at 533-2011.